We were going to do Outward Bound, but that seemed too extreme. We searched the website and found Adventure Treks. We liked the age of instructors and ratio of kids to instructors. The focus on community and good behavior was key. Adventure Treks exceeded our expectations. This was an experience that we had to nudge our child to go on, but he came back so optimistic, grounded, happier than we have seen him in years, and incredibly confident. He said, “it was the best combination of kids. A life-changing experience that rocked my world!” Our son learned that he CAN take care of himself, and despite obstacles, he can overcome them and feel really good about himself.

Adventure Treks was an incredible, challenging, life-changing adventure! What was so valuable was the community and our daughter’s realization that she’s stronger than she thought. She feels like she made life-long friends and can’t wait to travel with them again.

While a rugged outdoor experience was not our daughter’s first choice, she came home raving about her trip. Not only did she get to see a gorgeous part of the country and make good friends, but she learned that she is much stronger than she thought she was—both physically and mentally. She learned new skills (cooking, setting up tents in the rain, etc.), perseverance, and how being goofy can help you get through most anything. We had wanted her to have a fun, tech-free experience, and Adventure Treks definitely delivered. We can’t recommend it enough!

My son had an amazing time, and it was a great experience for him. He’s at an age where he craves independent adventure, and this was a great opportunity for him to have an adventure without us while we could still feel that he was safe and in good hands. He came home with awesome stories, and he is happier and more confident. As his parents, this means a lot to us. It felt risky sending him off on a plane alone for the first time to travel around with people we’ve never even met in person, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Adventure Treks is a community-oriented, nature-exploring, and fun program. It allows your child to experience nature in many new and awesome ways, and lets them meet many interesting people and build community with them. The community was so valuable because of how they supported one another and let each other grow in amazing ways.

While my daughter was excited about signing up, as the experience became closer, the uncertainties made it feel very scary, and she was apprehensive. The trip ended up exceeding her expectations, and she is excited to go back next summer. She felt supported by the instructors, felt comfortable in the community, and made friends. Emily commented multiple times when she got home that she felt safe and cared for. She noted her medication and food as two areas where she noticed how caring and responsible the instructors were. I am also thankful that they managed her homesickness well, and she was able to overcome those feelings with the support of the instructors. She had a lot of fun and felt proud of her accomplishments! She really enjoyed the people and the activities. She can be a picky eater, but she only had great things to say about the food. From my perspective, the most valuable part of the experience was that she had the opportunity to be in situations in which she had to be flexible and also try new things that felt challenging. I really appreciate that Adventure Treks offers the opportunity to have those experiences with the appropriate scaffolding to make them accessible to a beginner. I think it is amazing every time she does something that she thought she was too anxious to do. I wanted so badly for her to enjoy experiencing the outdoors in this way, and I was so glad that she loved it and said she wanted to go back!

My daughter can’t stop talking about her adventures—she said it was the best trip ever, the best kids ever, and the best instructors ever. She truly misses everyone. She described the community like a big family.

Henry had a great time. He did not have any camping experience (only hiking experience) and enjoyed the trip, learning camping skills along the way. It was so valuable to have the experience of being away from us for the first time, travelling on his own, and integrating into a new group.

Sydney and Sam both loved AT. The program exposed them to new people, new challenges, and new experiences. They learned a lot, grew as individuals, became more confident, and made friendships that we hope will last a lifetime.

My daughter had the time of her life on her AT trip to Colorado. Not only were the adventures and activities amazing, but also the instructors and students fostered an open and supportive environment of fun and community-building. Eva loved the instructors: funny, engaging, personable. Fantastic job!